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Anzac Day March - Sydney
Departed Batavia ?/2/1942
Arrived Colombo, Ceylon 22/2/1942
A number of injured soldiers were evacuated from Singapore by various Hospital
Ships in the last days before the surrender. They headed to Batavia, where they boarded other Hospital Ships for the trip to Colombo.
On arrival in Ceylon, they were transferred to 12 AGH, where they spent
their time recovering, before being repatriated to Australia.
Among those
who headed for Batavia were
NX37501 - Pte. J.A. SANDRY and NX34711
- Capt. W. MELVILLE.
They were evacuated from Singapore
on 12/2/1942 on board the
flat bottomed Yangtze River Boat,
Wah Sui (Wusei),
which had been converted to a Hospital
Ship.
On Friday, 13/2/1942, Pte. Sandry
died of his wounds and was buried at sea.
Also during the voyage, the Wah Sui (Wusei)
was stopped by a Japanese cruiser and
inspected by a boarding party, but the ship was allowed to
continue on it's way.
After arrival at Batavia, Capt. Melville was transferred
to the British Hospital ship Karapi, which made a safe voyage to Colombo.
The Karapi arrived in Ceylon on 22/2/1942, and the men
were transferred to 12 AGH, where they spent their time
recovering. Capt. Melville remained in convalescent camp for
several months, until suitable transport
was available to transport him, and the other soldiers, back to
Australia.
(Source:
Across the Sea to War; NAA: B883 Service Records NX34711 & NX65890; Makan No. 179)
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Last updated
29/08/2022 |
